It is so gratifying to go outside in February and find some plants already bravely blooming and budding through and even under the snow. My earliest hellebore, H. atrorubens , a Lenten Rose, had many buds and one delightful flower open. Our Japanese Flowering Apricot, Prunus mume, is covered with buds, already showing color, as well as my poor Daphne, D. odorata aureomarginata, that got so badly hit during the 0° temps. Despite the damage, there are still lots of buds ready to open. On Groundhog Day, even if he does see his shadow, I know that spring is not far away.
The small tree faithfully blooms every February.
Newly opened flower of Lenten Rose
